Another hard to put down thriller by Loreth Ann white! Intriguing from start to finish. The characters were well developed and there were twists and turns around every corner.

Deliciously addictive with a dark, voyeuristic heart, I loved every minute of this captivating thriller! The format switched from a true crime podcast/documentary to Chloe and her new neighbors, which kept the suspense and intrigue high. There were so many twists I didn't know which way to look! Bravo for another fantastic book.

Book Title: The Swimmer
Author: Loreth Anne White
Publisher: Montlake
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: September 10, 2024
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 348

Chloe Cooper, is good at what she does – she is known as ‘the’ dog walker of Crow’s Point, a bartender who remembers her customers favorite drinks, a care giver for her ill mother Raven; also is a snoop and story teller. She does lack a social filter and just doesn’t pick up on social. cues, she lives her life by watching people and then invents wildly entertain stories about them.

She currently is obsessed with the glamorous fifty-nine year old, Insta influencer Jemma Spengler. Jemma and her sixth-two year old renowned surgeon husband Adam just moved into the neighborhood. Adam had a huge house built on a lot that once had a little yellow cottage with a beautiful garden. Adam and Jemma are recovering from a recent heartbreak; the new house is Adam's idea of making a new beginning. Although they are wealthy and certainly could have bought an attractive home, Adam is proud of what he created. The home has a lot of windows but no window coverings as there was a mix-up and won’t be ready for two more weeks- which means Chloe can easily view into their home.

Then something tragic happened one morning while Chloe is dog walking on the beach, although it is a foggy rainy morning she spots Jemma swimming and then see the accident.

Story it told from the time periods -
Before the Hit-Run, -
The Hit-and-Run – and
It’s Criminal: The Chloe Cooper Story.
I was into this story immediately.
I liked Chloe and was curious why her mother was so protective. However, I soon lost interest in Jemma and Adam.
I did laugh about the popularity of Adam’s blue Testa. Here in Southern California white is without a doubt THE most popular.
Okay not fair to judge the quality of this story on the color of Adam’s Testa. . . . .

Want to thank NetGalley and Montlake for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 10, 2024.

I couldn't read this one fast enough! White has become one of my favorite authors and the anticipation of The Swimmer was for real. Fast-paced, twisty as only this author can do.
Murder, secrets, interesting characters, and a plot that pulls you in and you don't want it to end!

4* This author never fails to disappoint. An autobuy, after just 2 books.

This is a well-written and twisty tale that has you wondering what's up with the person we're first introduced to, Chloe, who's a bit of a loner, perhaps a bit wary of the law for unknown reasons, but at the same time, a decent person who looks out for her housebound mother, and who loves her ugly little dog. She may be nosy and when she witnesses a murder, doesn't step up as you'd expect a witness or a decent person to, but there's something decent about her, and in the end, life turns in her favour. In a very sweet and unexpected way that ended the tale perfectly for the until-then, misfit that she was.

The husband and wife characters aren't ones I could root for. Each was capable of doing awful things, as gets shown, and not all was as it seemed. The tale took me down different routes at different times, unexpectedly, and I didn't 'see' the collaboration between Chloe and a character who turned out to be devious, nasty and manipulative, that could've had horrible consequences for Chloe, had someone not been decent enough to realise that things were amiss. The cop investigation felt kind of not integral to the tale, but was as expected, in a way, given that the focus was on characters, not on the murder/planning/hiding aspects. But, this author does disappoint and whilst the book didn't turn out to be the out-and-out police procedural that I expected, it was still a very good read, with unexpected warmth and decency and the start of better days for Chloe, a person that life and circumstances had trodden on. It was sad that her mother wasn't there to see it, especially with the shocking reveal about this old lady at the end of her life, because of the strength and determination that she showed in order to protect her child - that was unexpected and sad. I wish Chloe and her mum could've talked about this and made their peace a bit more, as Chloe's life was formed by her mother's actions, which in turn were because of what was forced onto the mother er, literally and metaphorically.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Montlake, for my reading pleasure.

One of the best books I have read so far this year. I couldn't put it down! Fast paced book filled with the multiple characters points of views which make it more of a page turner. A definite must read!

‘The Swimmer’ is what I consider a classic Loreth Anne White novel. You know when you start one of her books that you are going to get a tightly written, complex character driven story that sits with you well after the book is complete.
I won’t rehash the plot of this book as there are many other reviews with the plot outline already, but I did like the reappearance of true crime podcasters Trinity Scott and Gio Rossi, who also feature in Loreth Anne White’s excellent novel ‘Beneath Devil’s Bridge’.
Like her previous few novels, ‘The Swimmer’ has chapters from multiple characters points of view, which leads more depth to the final gut punch plot twist. One minute you’re minding your own business, enjoying a great read and thinking you know where the story is going and then wham! A plot twist you didn’t see coming knocks you sideways.
‘The Swimmer’ is an exceptional psychological thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend to everyone who wants a page turner to keep them up all night.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher**

Devil’s Bridge is my favorite by Loreth Anne White, but this one is a close second! Her entire backlist is good if you haven’t read anything else by her.

This was a fast paced thriller that provided excitement and had some seriously great plot twists that I didn’t see coming! For fans of Freida McFadden or Jeneva Rose, this book provides the same type of engaging and thrilling plot that ensure an enjoyable and entertaining read.

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc!

Chloe Cooper is a 40 yr old socially awkward woman who is her terminally ill mother’s caregiver, dog walker and neighborhood snoop/stalker which leads to her witnessing the murder of The Swimmer.

Adam and Jemma Spengler are Chloe’s new neighbors who basically live in a glass house (a house with large windows and no blinds).. providing their spying neighbor perfect access to their not so perfect world. Jemma is a social media influencer for mature women and Adam is a renowned surgeon with a big secret, and Chloe gets front row seats to their world imploding. I liked that this book revolved around mature adults (40-60 year olds) and includes struggles that come with aging and life that we don’t often see in books.

I really enjoyed how this was written from the viewpoint of the primary characters in some chapters and documentary style in others. The character viewpoints are shown through the Before, After and During the two main events in the book, The Hit & Run and The Murder. The “It’s Criminal - The Chloe Cooper Story” podcast turned documentary chapters recount events through interviews with several sub-characters that play important roles in The Swimmer.

I will admit, I initially struggled getting into this book. I’m not sure what it was (probably me) but it just didn’t grab me right away… but then things got really interesting and I couldn’t wait to finish and find out how it ends!! There were several twists and secrets that come out which make this a good psychological thriller. Some plot twists were predictable but there were aspects of the Chloe’s psyche that were explained late in the book that I really appreciated. This is my first book from this author but I do look forward to reading more… I definitely recommend The Swimmer for anyone who enjoys suspenseful reads!

** Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake and Loreth Anne White for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. **

Sinister and creepy, I loved this brilliant read!

Chloe lives an insular life, with only her terminally ill mother for company and an unhealthy obsession for watching other people. She becomes fixated on her neighbours, Adam and Jemma Spengler, learning about their lives and discovering each person's secrets. She watches Jemma swim in the sea every morning and is watching when a swimmer is brutally killed by a jet ski.

When the first twist dropped, I was literally stunned and actually went back to read that part again as I couldn't believe what I had just read!

The characterisation in the book is excellent, Chloe is fascinatingly weird and the Spenglers have over inflated egos that makes you feel they deserve to be taken down a peg or two, however what actually plays out is far more dramatic and twisty than that!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Loreth Anne White and Montlake for an ARC in return for an honest review.

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫
𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞
𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
𝟓⭐️

When I saw that @lorethannewhite’s newest thriller 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 was a read now on @netgalley I actually screamed with excitement and put all my other reads on hold. Every single book by this author has been amazing and I will forever read anything she writes.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 starts off with a bang and it continues to be an intense, twisty, fast paced read, throughout. I loved how CLEVER the plot was and how the author did a great job keeping us on our toes the entire time. Along with the clever plot the author provides us with several unreliable characters, and I loved the different POV’s as the chapters changed!

This book is out 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎𝐭𝐡, and you need to add this one to your TBR. Thank you @netgalley for the early copy!

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒: “ Socially awkward Chloe Cooper divides her time between dog walking, bartending, caring for her ailing mother, and at a safe distance, watching people and inventing the stories of their lives. Like Chloe’s new neighbors: glamorous influencer Jemma Spengler and Jemma’s husband, Adam, a renowned surgeon. They’re attractive, wealthy, and in a house of open windows, so exposed.

A move to the Pacific Northwest is supposed to be a fresh start for Jemma and Adam. It’s a renewed commitment to a marriage fractured by secrets. A chance to work through the tragic losses in their past. For Jemma, however, this new beginning also comes with an unnerving sensation that she’s being watched.

Then, on a fog-shrouded beach early in the morning, Chloe witnesses the murder of a swimmer. Her suspicions aroused, she suddenly sees her neighbors in a sinister new light. But as a detective and her partner close in, nothing is quite as it seems. Because the Spenglers are not the only ones with secrets. And Chloe isn’t the only one who’s been watching.“

#theswimmer#lorethannewhite
#netgalley#bookreview#5star
#5starread#bookfeature
#bookstagrammer#booksta
#booksofig#booklifestyle

I enjoyed this book very much! The characters were well developed and the storyline kept me engaged the whole way through. I’d definitely recommend this book to others.

"The Swimmer" by Loreth Anne White is an intense psychological suspense novel following Chloe Cooper, a socially awkward forty-year-old outsider who desperately wants to fit in and belong.

To put it plainly, Chloe Cooper is voyeuristic and a stalker. She likes to watch people, especially her neighbors, and is intrigued by them. Between walking her mom's dog, caring for her ailing mother, painting pictures of touching loneliness, and bartending, she watches the world from the sidelines, never participating, never getting involved. That is until a new couple arrives in the neighborhood - glamorous influencer Jemma Spengler and her surgeon husband, Adam - and Chloe becomes entangled in their lives. Soon, it becomes clear that the surface of their marriage may glitter, but there are cracks beneath it. The plot thickens when Chloe witnesses the murder of a swimmer, and this is just the beginning of this twisted tale.

The story alternates between the characters in the third-person POV, offering an intriguing dynamic between them. While most of the characters weren't relatable or likable, I didn't care for Jemma and Adam, I felt for Chloe and her struggles. Her care for her mother and the dog especially captured my heart.

In the words of the book, this is a story of 'trauma, loneliness, longing, and the desperate need to fit in and be loved.' Chloe is an autodidact, awkward outside of work, unable to read social cues, and very naive (some would say too naive). The author attributes this to her past, but it could just be the way she is."

I liked the inclusion of the podcast narrating the events, which served to muddy the waters. Things aren’t always what they seem. The layers of the story gradually unravel and collapse, leading to the final revelation. While I liked the book, some parts made me uneasy, so I had to take a break from reading at times.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found it engaging. It has surprising developments and twists, unexpected revelations, and deceptive characters, which makes it an easy read. The saying "Enough is as Good as a Feast" came to mind while reading the book. Everyone had secrets, some more terrible than others.

With themes of friendship, toxic relationships, trust, fallible human nature, loss, and moral conflicts, the author has woven a tale that I enjoyed reading. I decided to rate it 4 out of 5 stars because some choices were unbelievable and didn't make sense. Also, I'm tired of people getting away with things they did. I recommend the book to readers who enjoy psychological suspense, complex character studies, and narratives with unexpected twists and turns.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

I seem to be in the minority here because The Swimmer has received a lot of great reviews, but I had a hard time getting into it. I think the overall story is one that will appeal to readers who love thrillers, but I found a lot of it to be far fetched, especially the storyline between Jemma and her husband, Adam. I found myself rolling my eyes at times. I also had a hard time believing that Chloe was supposed to be so naive at 40 years old.

I’ve read and enjoyed other books by Loreth Anne White, especially The Unquiet Bones, so I was hoping to love this one as well. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an advanced copy of The Swimmer in exchange for my review.

The Swimmer is the latest thriller by author Loreth Anne White. Ms. White is also the author of The Maid’s Diary and many other thriller and romantic suspense novels.

Chloe Cooper is a bartender, dog walker, caretaker and a bit of a voyeur. She likes to spy on her new neighbors, Dr. Adam Spengler and his wife Jemma. They are wealthy, attractive, and glamorous. Chloe is enamored with them. One day, Chloe is walking her dog on the beach and she sees a swimmer in the water doing laps. Then out of nowhere the swimmer is killed and Chloe is hesitant to go to the police about what she saw. But why??? What is she hiding? Somehow she knows her neighbors are involved and they aren’t all she thought they were. Everyone is hiding something.

The Swimmer is a twisty thriller with quite a few unexpected reveals. I thought the novel flowed well and wasn’t too short or too lengthy. The novel is told from the third person perspective. I would have preferred if the story had been told from each of the main characters perspectives so we could have known more about what was going on in their minds. The Spengler’s were not nice characters and not likeable. Chloe was more likeable, but I still didn’t really connect with her as much as I would have liked.

Overall, I enjoyed the wild ride of The Swimmer and highly recommend it if you like a good popcorn thriller. It is perfect for a beach read, although you may be wary of swimming after reading this.

Thank you to Netgalley, Ms. White, and the publisher Montlake for this ARC in exchange for my reading and review. The Swimmer will be released on September 10, 2024.

Yet again anything Loreth writes I want more of, The Devil Beneath the Bridge is hands down my favorite. This is a good addictive read with one twist so jaw dropping that I nearly fall off a sofa I’m perching on (true!). The first half is probably stronger than the second but it’s still a twisty read with some clever misdirection from the author, which I really enjoy. The moral of that is to never assume. It’s far from being a simple tale and has several layers to it to it which involves the characters back stories which is intriguing. The storytelling is intense, it’s full of tension, it makes you uneasy, there’s a strong sense of claustrophobia and it’s full of atmosphere. I enjoy the way it plays out with an ‘imperfect’ ending which fits well and one part gladdens my heart. This was a fun group read with Ceecee, Marilyn, Jayme, DeAnn, and Mary Beth with everyone contributing to a spirited whodunnit discussion. I loved the camaraderie as it’s rare for group schedules to align. My jaw literally dropped on the floor. There was so much more to this story than meets the eye. I loved every minute of this book and flew through it in a day. It was a compelling, intense read that hooked me right from the start. White's writing flows beautifully and perfectly depicts the scene and the nature of her characters.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for this advance copy of The Swimmer by Loreth Anne White - this one will be coming out this September 2024!

Unfortunately, I struggled with a few things in this book - I see a TON of 4 and 5 star reviews, so maybe I’m in the minority, but this one felt SO repetitive in the first half of the book, and the flip flopping between character POVs was really confusing, and felt very disjointed. I was getting to know Chloe and thought she was going to portray a narrator that made you raise your eyebrows, and then we fling over to a Jenna chapter, then pivot to an Adam chapter and it just didn’t work for me. I’m seeing lots of “so twisty!” comments, but I’ve read a lot of thrillers, and I don’t know if I’d say any twists would be something I’m talking about in a month or so.

Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC - pub date is 9/10/24!

An absolutely fantastic story that kept me guessing almost until the end. All the different perspectives the story is told from were kind of confusing initially, but it was quite obvious in the end what Loreth intended when writing it that way. All the fine details play out into a shocking and satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended!

I enjoyed this book, about an outsider who lives her life by vicariously observing other people lives and sometimes inserting herself into them. New glamourous neighbors move in and give her a lot to work with. But all is not what it seems and a twisted tale ensues. Chloe grew on me after awhile and I rooted for her growth and ability to have her own life 4.5